Container lid



June 4, 1935. E. s. IRELAN 2,003,540

CONTAINER LID Filed Jan. 26, 1934 ffzzmmm referred to by way of example.

Patented `lune 4, 1935 UNITED STATES CONTAINER- Lm Ellison S. Irelan, Elgin, Ill., assignor to Illinois Watch Case Company, Elgin, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 26, 1934, Serial No. 708,354 i 2 Claims.

. This invention relates to a decorative lid for small cases, boxes, etc., such as Vanities, humidors, and the like. f

In the ensuing description a compact will be Such an article includes a lid which is usually made of metal. According to the present invention I associate with the lid as part thereof, for decorative purposes, a plaque which may be coated with hard enamel. The production and decoration of such a plaque involves steps and operations quite unlike those employed for the remainder of the lid. It is, therefore, advantageous that the plaque should be formed separately from the lid for ultimate assembly therewith.

It is with a container lid having such characteristics that my invention is concerned. In particular, the present improvements are directed to the construction of the lid and plaque by which the one may be assembled and retained with the other, and by which a mirror may optionally be associated with the lid and plaque in assembled relation therewith.

An exempliiication of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure l is a perspective view looking toward the interior of a container with which is an associated lid shown in open position;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the lid on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the lid in line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the assembly of the parts being not quite complete; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the assembled parts moved to iinal position.

In the drawing I have shown a container C in the form of a compact. With the details of this case the present invention is not concerned. It is of an appropriate size and shape with a spring catch 5 at one end and with tubular joints 6 at the other forming part of a hinge connection with a lid L. The lid, as shown, is of a size and shape to fit upon the case to which it is connected as by a pintle 1 Vextending through joints 8 at one end of the lid which coact with the joints 6 of the container.

The parts of the lid include a cover I0 having a large opening wherein is fitted a plaque I I held in position with the aid of a resilient packing I2 which also supports a. mirror I4 against a bezel I5 which is connected to the cover. The details of construction and manner of assembly of these several parts will now be explained.

The cover is desirably of convex form with its marginal edge 20 outturned to rest against the edges of thel container to which it is connected. The cover is 'so-.shaped `adjacent its peripheral edges as to provide arest'ior the edges of the bezel which iit closely within the cover edges, which latter are extended a suicient distance to 5 snap over the bezel edges to hold the same in place. This extension of the edges, for purposes of snap connection, is confined principally to the free end portions of the cover, as will be observed by a comparison of Figs. 2 and 4. l0

The central opening in the cover is desirably of such size and shape as to approach the cover edges more closely at its opposite end than at the sides. From this it results that there is a lesser amount of material at the cover ends than l5 elsewhere, permitting, in response to pressure, a slight yielding of the cover in a lengthwise direction. This fact is taken advantage of when fitting the bezel in place. One end of the bezel, as indicated clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, is adapted to 20 lie beneath the joints 6 and 8, and at the opposite end the bezel is held by its snap connection with the-edges of the cover which may be forced back through elongation of the cover when necessary to accommodate the bezel in this position. 25 When so elongated, the side regions of the cover are drawn in to a slight extent to engage the bezel at such points. The bezel is desirably cut away as at 25 adjacent the free end of the cover to receive the catch 5 in co-acting relation wheny 30 the cover is moved to closed position upon the container.

Within the central opening in the cover is fitted the plaque II whose edges 30 are desirably offset as shown. 'Ihe plaque may accordingly be fitted 35 to the cover from the inside, and its oisetedges provide a. seat by which the plaque will remain centered in position. To the rear of the plaque is arranged the packing which may be of some light compressible material, such as is afforded 4U by a cellulose derivative. This packing willsustain the mirror I4 against the inner side of the bezel in spaced relation to the mirror. The bezel, it will be noted, is formed with an inner bead 35 dening avshoulder for retaining the 45 mirror in a central position.

From the preceding description, it will be noted that the several parts of the lid` are retained xedly in assembled relation by the simpleV expedient of a snap connection between the cover 50 and bezel confined largely to one end thereof. The opposite end connection may utilize the hinge joints by which the lid is connected to its associated container. The connection which exists solely between the cover and bezel may serve also 55. y

to secure in place other plate-like parts such as the plaque and mirror which are illustrated. By providing means for centering the plaque with relation to the cover and the mirror with relation to the bezel, these parts require no further retention other lperhaps than the packing between them which exerts thereon opposing thrusts. As suggested at the outset, this invention is applicable to Various kinds of containers, a compact being illustrated as an example, consequently protection is sought asV defined by the. v

bezel openings adapted to be tted in position to claims following.

I claim:

1. A container cover formed with marginal,

walls and a hinged connection between the'fcontainer and cover walls, a bezel fitted to the cover and retained in assembly therewith by engagement with the hinged connection and by'a snap connection with the marginal walls of the cover at a point opposite the hingedv connection`,'th`e cover and bezel being `each formed with Va relatively large central opening, a plaque tted within thecover opening having means to remain in centered relation therewith, a mirror fitted within the bezel opening having means to remain in centered relation therewith, and compressible means interposed between the plaque and mirror exerting opposite thrusts when the bezel is in snap connection with the walls of the cover to retain each in a fixed position of assembly therewith.

2. A container cover provided with an opening, a bezel fitted to the cover also provided with an opening, plates slightly larger than the cover and cover j such openings and seated against their surrounding edges upon the inner faces thereof, compressible means between the two plates adapted to press the latter against their respective seats, and means for securing the bezel to .the cover so as to retain said plates over their respective openings comprising hinge joints which 'engage rthe bezel at one end and a marginal wall on the cover adapted for snap engagement with the bezel at the opposite end thereof.

ELLISON S. IRELAN. 

